Why Alabama basketball payout from Players Era Festival dropped from $1m to $100K for 2025

Alabama basketball is headed back to Las Vegas to collect the only guaranteed cash in Sin City.

The Crimson Tide walked away from the 2024 Players Era Festival tournament with the $1 million it was promised for participating, plus $250k for finishing runner-up to Oregon.

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Although it was harder to enjoy the payday with the loss of Latrell Wrightsell Jr. to injury against the Ducks, the three-day competition was one of the turning points on Alabama‘s second straight run to the Elite Eight. As a result, there wasn’t a question as to whether UA would try for the title again.

This year still offers high-value competition, but the dollar amount banked by Alabama and the 17 other participating teams will be smaller.

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According to contracts obtained by The Tuscaloosa News through an open records request to the University of Alabama, Alabama will receive a “sponsor fee” of $100k − far less from the base $1 million teams received in 2024.

ESPN and CBS claimed each team will receive more than $1 million, but that amount wasn’t listed anywhere as a guaranteed payout in Alabama’s contract, nor were any bonuses for taking the championship or finishing runner-up. Per Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68, only the tournament winner is guaranteed $1 million while the second-, third- and fourth-place teams will receive $500k, $300k and $200k, respectively.

The financial difference can be explained by the expansion of the Players Era Festival, which will now host 18 teams after only hosting eight (Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, Texas A&M) last year, as well as House settlement rules that restrict power-conference schools to a cap of nearly $20 million per year given directly to athletes.

Per Alabama’s contract, the tournament is making up for the lower take-home amount with the following benefits: a $50k airfare stipend, seven nights of lodging at MGM Grand for up to 35 people − and “up to one suite” at the hotel ‒ three meals per day and a 50-passenger motor coach for each day of the tournament.

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With the exception of Texas A&M, UA will be joined by all of the inaugural teams at the 2025 tournament, along with new participants Maryland, Auburn, Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, St. John’s, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV.

Here’s a look at the full schedule.

When will Alabama basketball play in 2025 Players Era Festival?

All times are CT.

Monday, Nov. 24

• Tennessee vs. Rutgers, 12 p.m.

• Baylor vs. Creighton, 1 p.m.

• Kansas vs. Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m.

• St. John’s vs. Iowa State, 3:30 p.m.

• Houston vs. Syracuse, 5 p.m.

• Oregon vs. Auburn, 7 p.m.

• Alabama vs. Gonzaga, 8:30 p.m.

• Michigan vs. San Diego State, 9:30 p.m.

• Maryland vs. UNLV, 11 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 25

• Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 12 p.m.

• Iowa State vs. Creighton, 1:30 p.m.

• Kansas vs. Syracuse, 2:30 p.m.

• St. John’s vs. Baylor, 4 p.m.

• Houston vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m.

• Michigan vs. Auburn, 7:30 p.m.

• Gonzaga vs. Maryland, 8:30 p.m.

• Oregon vs. San Diego State, 10 p.m.

• Alabama vs. UNLV, 11 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 26

• Consolation/third-place game: 5 p.m.

• Championship game: 8:30 p.m.

Where could Alabama basketball play while in Las Vegas?

Michelob Ultra Arena and MGM Grand Garden Arena were listed in the contract as the two possible venues where Alabama could play during its time in Las Vegas.

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How much will tickets be for Players Era Festival?

Alabama’s contract with the Players Era Festival required the school to purchase 500 tickets to each of its games and outlined an “average ticket value” of $150, highlighting a 10% discount “applied before purchase.” Thereafter, the participant is allowed to resell the tickets “for any price it wishes.” Expect for the ticket package to be valued at over $150 once they’re available for sale through UA.

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why Alabama basketball payout from Players Era dropped from $1m to $100K